Flight for conveyer chains



S. V. TEINCH. FLIGHT FOR CONVEYER CHAINS. APPLICATION FILED ma. 4, 1920.

Patented July 25, 1922.

En area a w y ty e retire r at FLIGHT FOR CONVEYEB. CHAINS.

Application filed February 4:, 1920.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL V. TENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing in lVilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements in Flights for ConveyerChains, of which the following isa specification.

Chains are much employed in mining, and in the production of coal particularly, not only for driving purposes, but also in hoisting or elevating, and in conveying.

It is, therefore, highly advisable to adopt a standard type of chain which is adapted to all thevarious uses about the mines, so that when a stock of chain is purchased, lengths may be used to replace worn parts in the several different chains about the mines.

Heretofore, it hasbeen customary when it is desired to form a conveyer, to take a sufficiently long piece of chain and attach flight brackets to the links at proper inter vals, the flights themselves being removably secured to the flight brackets.

Not only do the fastenings which secure the flight brackets to the links of the chain become loose and break, but also the fastenings which secure the flights to their brackets, and the brackets themselves are subjected to a strain which oftenv results in breakage.

Therefore, if the flights could be directly secured to the links without the use of flight brackets, a considerable saving in expense would result, a smaller number of fastenings would be required, with a consequent reduction in the number which can become loose, and the elimination of the flight brackets materially reduces the weight of the chain and as a result, effects an economy in the amount of power necessary to drive the chain conveyer.

One object of my invention is to provide a flight directly attachable to chains in common use in mines and all the foregoing advantages and readily removed and replaced with a minimum of time and labor.

In effecting these advantages, I provide a flight having a chain, and secured to the link by a single bolt passing laterally through the opposite sides of the housing and through the link.

inen the flight is attached to an open link, I may provide a filler piece insertible in the link, and embraced by and enclosed Specification of Letters Patent.

other works, having.

, a single chambered housing adapted to fit over and embracethe link of Patented July 25', 1922..

Serial No. 356,193.

within the single-chambered housing, to afford an additional anchorage. for theflight.

It is customary to. provide, rails along which the flights ride as they return from the discharge end of the conveyer trough to the receiving end thereof, which rails support the return or slack side of the chain against sagging and interfering with the operation of the conveyer.

The frictional engagement of the conveyer flights with the rails tends to wear the flights and thus renderit a necessary to frequently substitute new flights.

Another object of my invention is to reduce to a minimum the wear on the flights caused by their contact with the supporting rails.

In the accompanying. drawings, Fig. l is a perspectiveview of a flight applied directly to. a link of a chain;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a fragment of the return side of an endless chain, showing my invention applied. thereto;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view; and

Fig. at is a front view of the flight.

In the particular embodiment herein chosen to illustrate my invention, 1 have applied the flight to a form of oblong open link 1 in general use, the sides of which link are reduced intermediate their ends to form shoulders 2, 2.

The flight comprises a blade or body portion 3, the contour of which may preferably conform to the cross-sectional shape of the usual conveyer trough, it being understood that, in the selected exempliflcation of my invention, the single line conveyer chain extends longitudinally of the. conveyer trough, and above the median line thereof and that the flight extends transversely or crosswise of the conveyer chain,

Intermediate its opposite ends, the body portion 3 of the flight is recessed, as at a, to fit over'the link 1 of the chain. Y

, Flanges 5 extend along one edge of; the body portion3 at approximately right angles to such body portion, and preferably are formed integrally with such body portion, the adjacent ends of the flanges connecting with the, free ends of the sides-of a housing 6, confor-mingin shape to the contour of the recess 4, and extending at substantially right angles to the body portion 3 of the flight. I

in the form shown, the, link 1 being rectangular in cross-section, the recess 4 is similarly shaped to fit thereover and closely embrace the sides of the link.

The sides of the housing 6 are apertured to accommodate a bolt or other suitable fas-,

tening device 7 adapted to pass through the housing and link from side to side thereof, and secure the flight to the link. In the particular form shown, the housing embraces the reducedportion of the link, the length of the housing from :front to rear, corresponding to the distance between the shoulders 2, 2 of the sides of the link which pre vent shifting of the flight relatively to the link. i

Also the sides of the housing may be somewhat resilient, and the pressure brought to bear thereon by the bolt causes the sides to grip the link.

In addition, it may be desired to insert an anchor piece or block 8 within the link, the

bolt or other fastening 7 then passing throughthe anchor block, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby to afliordadded rigidity to the structure and prevent slippage of the flight along the link. 1

i It will be noted that the connecting por- 'tion of the housing 6 lies in contact with the adjacent outer face of the link and serves as a brace for the body portion of the fl ght. Furthermore, the apertured sides of the housing wholly embrace the link, as shown in Fig. 1, and the anchor block 8 contained within the link, the later lying wholly within the vertical planes of the sides of the link. The height of the chamber formed by the housing 6 is substantially equal to the thick ness of the link, the width of the housing being sufliciently greater than the width of the link to allow the housing to snugly fit over the link, whereby the reinforcing'flanges 5 lie approximately in a plane with the inner face of the link, such flanges operating to strengthen the flight, and alsobeing adapted to ride upon the usual stationary return rails 9 located substantially parallel with and on opposite sides of the chain, to support the slack side of the chain against sagging and interfering with the taut side of the chain. lVhere such return rails 9 are of wood, the wear on the flight caused by its frictional contact with the rails is negligible. However, it is often more convenient to utilize sections of metallic T or other rail for the purpose of supporting the slack side of the chain, and in such event I propose to reduce or eliminate wear on the flights duev to contact with the supporting rails, by providing each flight with inclined or wedgeshaped pockets 10, open at their opposite ends, and conveniently applied to thebody portion of the flight near its opposite ends, and preferably adjacent the flanged longitudinal edge of the body portion, to aline with the supporting rails 9.

Wear blocks 11 conveniently composed of hard wood conforming to the wedge-shape of the pockets are inserted within the pockets, the grain of the Wood running lengthwise of the blocks. The butt ends of the blocks project' past the adjacent edge of the body portion and the outer faces of the flanges 5 to contact the rails as the return side of the chain travels towards the inlet end of the conveyer. I

Pins 12 of wood or other suitable material pass through registering apertures formed through the outer walls of the pockets, the blocks 11 and the body portion or blade?) of the flight, the pins preferably being tapered and if desired, secured in place by cotters 13 passing transversely through those portions of the pins projecting rearwardly from the rear face of the'blade 3.

The wear blocks maintain the flights apart from the rails to relieve the wear on the flights, and by reason of the contact of the ends of the grain With the rails, and the difference in material (wood and metal) the wear on the blocks isreducedh- W hen the projecting ends of the blocks 11 have been worn down, thesecuring pins 12 may be driven out, the wear blocks removed, new ones substituted therefor, and the pins 12 replaced.

Obviously, the flight might be made of suflicient size to coact With a double line of chain, in which event, the body 3 of the flight would be recessed at two places and equipped with two housings to embracethe respective chains.

It will be understood that the recess 4 and housing 6 may be shaped to fit links of varying cross-sectional area and contour,'either open or solid.

My invention eliminates the use of a flight bracket and several bolts formerly used, as well as the punching operations to form the holes in the flight and flight bracket for the bolts. I

Furthermore, the flights are more easily removed, repaired and replaced, or new ones substituted, than heretofore.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the body portion 8 of the flight may be made integral with the flanges 5 and housing 6, though I do notwishto confine myself to this one piece construction.

What I claim as new, is

1. The combination with the link of a conveyer chain; of a flight detachably mounted directly on the link and comprising a body portion having a recess substantially conforming tothe cross-sectional area of the link, to accommodate the link; a housing, including two sides and a connecting member, projecting at approximate right angles to the body portion of the flight, around the recess, the sides ofthe housing being substantially equal in length to the crosssectional height of the link to embrace the opposite sides of the link, the connecting member lying in contact with one face of the link, to brace the body portion of the flight; flanges projecting at substantially right angles to the body portion of the flight, along one edge thereof; and a fastening means passing through the sides of the housing and through the link, to secure the flight to the link.

2. The combination with the link of a con- Veyer chain; of a flight mounted directly on the link, and comprising a body portion, having a recess substantially conforming to the cross-sectional area of the link, to accommodate the latter; a housing, including two sides and a connecting member projectingrearwardly from I the body portion around the recess, to embrace the link, the connecting member lying in contact with one face of the link, to brace the flight; and a fastening means passing through the sides of the housing and through the link, the pressure of the fastening means adapted to draw the sides of the housing towards each other to cause them to grip the sides of the link.

3. The combination with an open link of a conveyor chain; of a flight mounted directly on the link, and comprising a body portion, having a recess substantially conforming to the cross-sectional area of the link to accommodate the latter; a housing, including two sides and a connecting member, projecting rearwardly from the body portion around the recess, to embrace the link, the connecting member lying in contact with one face of the link to brace the flight; an anchor piece interposed in the open link between the sides thereof, and lying wholly within the planes of the opposite edges of the sides of the link; and a fastening means passing through the sides of the housing and through the anchor plate.

4. The combination with the link of a conveyer chain, the sides of which link are reduced intermediate their ends, whereby to leave opposed shoulders; of a flight mounted directly on the link, and comprising a body portion, having a recess substantially conforming to the cross-sectional area of the re duced portion of the link, to fit over the latter; a housing including two sidesand a connecting member projecting rearwardly from the body portion around the recess, to embrace the link, the connecting member resting on one face of the link to brace the body portion, the Width of the sides of the housing being substantially equal to the distance between the opposed shoulders to fit therebetween and be held thereby against movement relatively to the link lengthwise in either direction; and fastening means passing through the sides of the housing and through the link to hold the flight in place.

5. The combination with a conveyer chain, including links; of a flight attaclmble directly to a link thereof, and comprising a body portion recessed intermediate its ends to conform to the shape of and fit tansvcrsely over the link; flanges projecting rearwardly from, and extending at an angle,

to the body portion, along the inner edge thereof from the opposite sides of the recess to the opposite ends of the body portion; a substantially U-shaped housing projecting laterally from the rear face of the body portion and extending around the edges of the recess, the inner ends of the flanges connected to the sides of the housing; an anchor piece seated in the opening in the link and enclosed by the housing; and means passing through the opposite sides of the housing,

and through the opening in the link, and

through the anchor piece, to secure the flight to the link 6. The combination with a conveyer chain, including links; of a flight attachable directly to a link thereof, and comprising a body portion recessed intermediate its ends to fit transversely over the link; flanges projecting rearwardly from, and extending at an angle to the body portion, along one edge thereof from the opposite sides of the recess to the opposite ends of the body portion; a substantially U-shaped housing projecting laterally from the rear face of the body portion and extending around the edges of the recess, the inner ends of the flanges connected to the sides of the housing; anchor piece seated in the opening in the link with its opposite sides lying in the planes of the side edges of the link, the sides of the housing adapted to embrace the sides of the anchor piece and the sides of the link; and fastening means passing transversely tl'irough the opposite sides of the housing, and through theopening in the link, and through the anchor piece to secure the flight and the anchor piece to the link,

7. The combination with a conveyor chain, including links; of a flight attachable directly to a link thereof, and comprising a body portion recessed intermediate its ends to fit transversely over the link flanges proj ecting rearwardly from, and extending at an angle to the body portion, along one edge thereof from the opposite sides of the recess to the opposite ends of the body portion; a sub stantially lit-shaped housing projecting laterally from the rear face of the bot y portion and extending around the edgesof the recess, the inner ends of the flanges connected to the sides of the housing; an anchor piece seated in the opening in the link and enclosed by the housing; and means passing through the opposite sides of the housing, and through the opening in the link, and through the anchor piece, to secure the flight to the link.

the recess to the opposite ends of the bodyv portion; a substantially U-shaped housing projecting from the rear face ofthe body portion and extending around the edges of the recess, the inner ends of the flanges con- I on the flights, near their wear blocks removably fitted in the pockets nected to the sides of the housing; an anchor piece seated in the opening in the link, with its opposite sideslying at least in the planes of the side edges of the link, the sides of the housing adapted to embrace the sides of the anchor piece; and fastening means passing transversely through the opposite sides of the housing, and through the opening in the link, and through the anchor link. i

9; In a conveyer, the combination" with an endless chain; flanged flights, angular in cross section, extending transversely of;

and secured to the chain at intervals,.the flights extending some distance on either side of the chain; and stationary rails located on opposite sides of the chain, along which rails the opposite ends of the flanges of the transversely extending flights pass on their return from the discharge to vthe *inlet end of the conveyer; of wear blocks removably secured to the flights near their opposite ends, the blocks projecting past the flanges of the flights to contact the rails and relieve the flights ofwear. i

10. In a conveyer, the combination with an endless chain; flights carried by the chain at intervals; and rails along which the opposite ends of the flights pass on their return from the discharge to the inlet end of the conveyer; of tapering pockets formed opposite ends;

with their ends projecting beyondthe adjacent longitudinal edgeof the flights to ride along the rails and relieve the body portion of the flights-of wear.

11. In a conveyer, the combination with anendless chain; flights carried by the chain at intervals;.and rails along Which the 0pposite ends of the flights pass on their return from the discharge to the inlet end of the conve er; of pockets formed on each of the flig ts near the opposite ends of such flights and in line With the rails; wear blocks removably inserted in the pockets, one end of each of the blocks projecting past the adjacent longitudinal edge of the corresponding flight to contact and ride on the respective rails; and fastening means passing through the outer walls of the pockets, the

piece, to secure the flight to the blocks and the flight to secure the blocks in place. i

12. In a conveyer, the combination with an endless chain, of flights mounted at in tervals on the chain; and rails along which the opposite ends of the flights pass on their return from the discharge to the inlet end of the conveyer; of wear blocks located near the opposite ends of the flights and projecting past the adjacent longitudinal edges thereof, to contact the rails and relieve the flights of wear; tapered pins passing through the blocks and through the flights; and cotter pins extending transversely through the tapered pins on that side of the flight opposite the blocks, to retain the blocks in place. j

13. The combination with a conveyer chain, including links; of a flight'detachably mounted on a link of the chain, and including a body-portion recessed intermediate itsends to fit overta link of the chain, a housing, including two sidesfand a connecting member projecting laterally from the body portion of the flight around the recess, the sides of the housing adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the link, the connectingmember adapted to contact with one face of the link; and fastening means passing through the sides of the housing and through the link to removably secure the flight to the link.

14. The combination with a chainformed of links; of a flight detachably mounted on onelink of the chain, and including abody portion, flanges one edge of the body portion; members extending on opposite sides of the link to embrace the latter; and fastening means passing through the embracing members and ithiipugh the link to secure the flight to the projecting laterally from' 15. The combination with a linkchain; of V a flight detachably mounted on a link, and including abody portion extending across one face of the link, side members connected to the body portion and. extending on opposite sides of thelink to embrace the latter; and fastening means passin through the side members and through the link to removably secure the flightto the link.

with a link chain; mountedon a link,

16. The combination of a flight detachably and including a body across the link and-lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the direction of travel of the chain, flanges projecting laterally from' one horizontal edge of the body portion, the flanges lying in a plane substantially parallel with the direction oftravel of the chain; and side members extending at approximate right angles to the flanges and to the body portion, and adapted-to embrace the link, the side members lying in vertical planes substantially parallel to the portion extending direction of travel of the chain; and fastening means passing through the side members and through the link to removably secure the flight to the link.

17. The combination with a link chain; of afiight detachably mounted on a link, and including a body portion extending across the link, and lying in a plane at substantial right angles to the direction of 10 travel of the chain, side members connected With the body portion and adapted to embrace the sides of the link, the side members lying at substantial right angles to the body portion and in Vertical planes substantially parallel With the direction of travel of the chain; and fastening means passing through the side members, and through the link to removably secure the flight to the link.

SAMUEL V. TENCI-L 

